A main objection to the draft impact statement was the lack of recognition of fracking's potential health effects. The administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo has initiated an internal health review. The operative word here is internal. Three public health experts (none of whom live in New York) have been appointed to review the state's environmental study.

Meanwhile, the DEC must issue revised regulations by Nov. 29 or risk delay for another public comment period.

Opponents of horizontal drilling have called for a comprehensive and independent health impact analysis that includes feedback from in-state medical professionals.

DEC Commissioner Joe Martens refused this notion last month stating, "government is the public's independent reviewer," and that public concerns about the release of biased results must be rejected.

The deadline is quickly approaching. The choice is ours: To let three out-of-state individuals privately review the health impacts of fracking or to call for a comprehensive, independent review. The results will fundamentally reshape New York.